The Sponsors

Luke asked Shelley, "Have all the people I invited arrived?"

"They're all here. Whether or not they're planning to side with the Security Bureau, they'll definitely show the Secret Intelligence Bureau this much respect. It's just... things are going to be rough for us from now on."

Shelley looked pessimistic.

The Secret Intelligence Bureau and the Security Bureau had always maintained an understanding over their interests at the docks. But when the Mad Axe Gang ran into trouble, the Security Bureau had immediately gone too far.

They were acting as if they intended to drive the Secret Intelligence Bureau out of the docks for good.

Now the Security Bureau was even threatening the Secret Intelligence Bureau's sponsors.

Even though the Secret Intelligence Bureau was so determined to protect the Mad Axe Gang, the difference in strength was making some of the sponsors start thinking about their future.

If the Secret Intelligence Bureau really lost the docks this time, and the Raging Wave City Administration put a stranglehold on them, then they might as well find a ship and go to sea as sailors. That would be better than scraping by on the meager salary from headquarters.

They'd probably never see such carefree days again.

Would they have to make a living by extorting street vendors from now on?

While Shelley wore a troubled expression, Luke tossed her a briefcase, then got up and headed out.

"Take this and come with me to meet our sponsors.

"The Mad Axe Gang... I'm protecting them!

"The docks... No one's taking them from us!"

"What's this?" Shelley wanted to open it, but when she saw that Luke had already gone out, she immediately grabbed the briefcase and followed him.

The third-floor meeting room was thick with smoke.

The influential figures from the various factions who had accepted the invitation smoked as they discussed what had happened at the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters.

"I think the Mad Axe Gang won't be able to hold out. I heard Black Jack paid a fortune to hire every sailor in Cape Port. That's several thousand people! If Jumu were still around, the Mad Axe Gang might have been able to hold on. But now, with just Lambert?

"Tomorrow, we'll see his head kicked around like a ball."

"The Security Bureau must have given you all a heads-up too, right? Chief Holt is extremely determined to take the docks. Our Detective Chief just took office, so I doubt he can beat Holt."

"You're not planning to side with the Security Bureau, are you? No matter how the Security Bureau and the Secret Intelligence Bureau fight, the Secret Intelligence Bureau will still be here. Aren't you afraid they'll settle the score with you later?"

"Of course we're afraid. That's why we came. We can talk to Meteor Detective Chief about our difficulties. At worst, we'll pay the Security Bureau and the Secret Intelligence Bureau both.

"It's just that we definitely can't pay them what we used to."

"Ugh... When the bigwigs at the Security Bureau and the Secret Intelligence Bureau fight, we're the ones who suffer. We have to pay up and put our lives on the line.

"Did you know someone put a bounty on Jumu the Horned Demonkin at the Assassin Tavern? Five thousand Gold Vouchers.

"That five thousand Gold Vouchers got more than a hundred Mad Axe Gang members killed, and that's not even counting last night. The factions around Cape District must have lost nearly a thousand people altogether!

"I don't know when this will end. I'm really afraid I'll be the one whose head gets kicked around like a ball."

"Captain Hamilton, you have a sizeable business at the docks too. What's your take on this?"

As soon as someone said the name Hamilton, everyone else fell silent and turned to look at a middle-aged man wearing a triangular sailor's cap.

Years of sailing under the blazing sun had left his skin rough, and a scar like a centipede ran across his face.

He was Captain Hamilton. He had a fleet under his command and controlled more docks than anyone except the Mad Axe Gang. In terms of strength and influence, he was the most powerful person in the room since Jumu's death.

If they wanted to jump ship from the Secret Intelligence Bureau's leaking vessel, Captain Hamilton was undoubtedly the best person to represent them in negotiations with the bureau's Detective Chief.

Captain Hamilton had said nothing since entering the meeting room. Instead, he'd used the sharp eyes he'd honed at sea to observe everyone there.

Seeing that everyone was putting him forward, he slowly said, "Everyone here knows how the Secret Intelligence Bureau has treated us all these years. The Security Bureau may take our money too, but it could never look after us the way the Secret Intelligence Bureau has.

"The Mad Axe Gang has made plenty of money for you, too!

"What's this... now that the Mad Axe Gang's in trouble, you're just going to watch them die? Meteor Detective Chief only took office today, and he's already risking everything to protect the Mad Axe Gang. Are you all really in such a hurry to jump ship?

"We sailors hate working with people like you."

Captain Hamilton's words left the meeting room silent. Everyone smoked and thought about their own affairs.

After a while, Pisco pushed open the door and shouted, "The Detective Chief is here!"

Everyone in the meeting room quickly stood up and bowed to Luke as he entered. "Good day, Meteor Detective Chief."

"Good, good, good..." Luke waved warmly at everyone. "Sit down! We're all friends here. There's no need to be so formal..."

"Thank you, Detective Chief."

Luke greeted everyone warmly, then suddenly pulled a gun from his coat and shot Captain Hamilton in the head as he bent to sit down.

Then he fired three more shots.

Every bullet went in through the top of Hamilton's head. He slumped over the table and died on the spot.

Everyone was stunned.

What was going on?!

Could it be... that the Secret Intelligence Bureau had summoned them here to kill them all?

Shelley, who had seen battle, reacted extremely quickly. She drew her gun and pointed it at the whole room. "Keep your hands where I can see them."

Anyone who'd thought about resisting immediately raised their hands.

They all knew how dangerous Black Mamba was, and they knew she really would shoot.

Someone asked, "Meteor Detective Chief... We haven't betrayed the Secret Intelligence Bureau. We're willing to do everything we can to support the Mad Axe Gang."

After Shelley had the situation under control, she said quietly to Luke, "Detective Chief, Captain Hamilton was on our side. He was the one who told me about the Security Bureau's warning.

"He also said he'd help us persuade these people not to side with the Security Bureau."

Luke slid his pistol back into its holster and said to Pisco, who was standing by the door, "Take Captain Hamilton's body out. Then take some men and arrest Doherty and Felix at his shipyard. Seize the Lucky Princess, and bring me the safe beneath the tenth floorboard to the left of the captain's cabin."

"Yes, Detective Chief!" Pisco came in, hoisted Hamilton's body onto his shoulder, and carried it out.

Just then, a group of Imperial Secret Agents who had heard the gunshots rushed in to help.

Luke sent the agents back out, then smiled at the sponsors. "There's no need to be nervous. I killed Hamilton because he orchestrated the assassination of my predecessor.

"Pisco's already gone to retrieve the evidence.

"Please, sit down. Let's discuss business.

"Black Mamba, put your gun away."

"Yes, Detective Chief." Shelley holstered her gun on the outside of her thigh, then asked, "How did you know Hamilton killed the previous Detective Chief?"

"Through an investigation, of course." Luke looked at the sponsors who were still standing. "We're short on time. If I tell you to sit down, sit down."

"Sit down!" Shelley shouted.

The sponsors quickly found seats, clustering at the other end of the conference table. Even the closest of them sat four seats away from Luke.

This new Detective Chief had walked in and shot Hamilton dead. Whatever the reason, they were all terrified.

After everyone had sat down, Luke asked, "Anyone who wants to jump ship can leave now."

The sponsors looked utterly miserable.

In this situation... even if they wanted to leave, they wouldn't dare!